sharing a drink at mcdonalds - is it stealing?

[Captante]

yeah, thats the thing - the store has never once appeared to care

And I seriously doubt that they ever will. They would MUCH rather you come in and buy two meals with one soda then have you not come in at all. (or worse have you never come in again and badmouth them to everyone you know)


Edit: I often go to fast food places and drink water out of a cup supplied by the restaurant at no charge ... so instead of making less profit, (and believe me even if you drink 4 refills between you while splitting a soda they still come out ahead) it actually costs the place money and they never say boo.

It is as bad as

Stopped by McD just for the washroom
Sit @ McD and use their wifi without purchase

Meaning? It is not a crime and I don't really care.

Goal of allowing this? Makes you comfortable at McDonald's and thus more likely to stop in to eat (and spend money) next time.

Some places have signs prohibiting this type of behavior, particularly buffet sharing. I guess it depends on how fancy the establishment is.

That's different and yes the sign (and the cost) does change everything. If McDonald's etc cared about folks sharing soda's they would post a sign to that effect. The thing is it would most likely cost them more money then it would save.

 

[Belegost]

I know what the theatre expects because they know that when you buy a large tub of popcorn that you are going to share that tub! They also know that you will most likely buy drinks for everybody because they are eating the popcorn! Their prices also reflect that fact!!

When you go to a restaurant especially some restaurants they just don`t care. Yet I know of pizza restaurants that if they catch your sharing the drink they will come and tell you.

I am sorry but these businesses are trying to make a profit and you are trying to rip them off by sharing your drink and refills.

The concept is really pretty simple to understand!

So the theater is ok if you share the popcorn but not the soda?

Generally the theaters I've been to will do free refills (at least on the super mega massive cup) and I've frequently shared the soda with my girlfriend/wife - we were stealing the soda, but not the popcorn?

 

[yhelothar]

Unethical, yes.
Illegal, well that might be a bit difficult to prove, especially if you had a Jewish lawyer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFtbTcvo6Zs

 

[sandorski]

Someone I know who works at McD's says they wouldn't care. Personally I would still feel awkward doing it. If 2 people want a drink and can afford it, it seems rather douchy to buy just 1 and share it, taking advantage of such a thing as free refills.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Confuse fast food free drink with all you can eat buffet much? Get off it, two people sharing a free drink not fifty.

I was trying to explain the concept of what might be right, and what might be wrong to the OP.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Free refills are free refills, I don't see and difference if you share it or dump it on the floor.

It's free refills for the person who PAID to have the drink(s), not for 2 or 50 people, etc.

EDIT:

Unethical, yes.
Illegal, well that might be a bit difficult to prove, especially if you had a Jewish lawyer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFtbTcvo6Zs

Nice video.

In some (food serving) places in the UK, they actually specifically say that "It is FINE to share this item, with other people".
This is usually for something which they sell in two different portion sizes. Single (for one person ONLY), or large/massive sharing version (for sharing with other(s) on your table).
I can't remember the exact wording, but it is either for 2 or for any number of people.

EDIT 2:
Actually the information is available online, here it is:

Example SOURCE

Plantation Platter:
For one / To share
Flame-grilled chicken wings, Crabbie’s® Ginger Beer & Blossom Honey
glazed duck wings, spit-roast chicken and Crackerjack Prawns. Served
with fresh grilled pineapple, grilled tomato and sour cream & chive dip.
802 kcal. / 1518 kcal.
Ultimate Chicken Platter
For one / To share
Perfect for chicken lovers. Fresh, spit-roast chicken, flame-grilled
chicken wings, Southern fried chicken breast and a grilled chicken
breast, Harvester Slaw and a grilled tomato. 1033 kcal. / 1877 kcal.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

had a friend that would take his personal thermos into fast food joints to fill up and walk out. he even took mcdonalds cups to burger king and vice versa.

nobody EVER said anything to him.

 

[Puppies04]

It's free refills for the person who PAID to have the drink(s), not for 2 or 50 people, etc.

EDIT:



Nice video.

In some (food serving) places in the UK, they actually specifically say that "It is FINE to share this item, with other people".
This is usually for something which they sell in two different portion sizes. Single (for one person ONLY), or large/massive sharing version (for sharing with other(s) on your table).
I can't remember the exact wording, but it is either for 2 or for any number of people.

EDIT 2:
Actually the information is available online, here it is:

Example SOURCE

Sorry but that is a stupid analogy, the only thing on that menu which is all you can eat is the salad and the soft drinks/coffee. If you buy the bigger portion you automatically get 2 bottomless softdrinks and 2 people are allowed to visit the salad bar. Try going in there and ordering the platter for one, 2 drinks and have 2 people go to the salad bar.

The waiter will charge you for the second drink on the bill and they will come and tell you that the all you can eat salad is free for anyone purchasing a main meal. As you only purchased one main meal only 1 person is entitled to visit the sald bar.

 

[Paladin3]

Any decent restaurant would just adjust the price of their drinks to cover the occasional sharing or theft of product. This eliminates all need to police who drinks what, but does raise the cost of beverages for those who don't share.

Remember that the cost of all sharing is eventually passed on to the consumer.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Sorry but that is a stupid analogy, the only thing on that menu which is all you can eat is the salad and the soft drinks/coffee. If you buy the bigger portion you automatically get 2 bottomless softdrinks and 2 people are allowed to visit the salad bar. Try going in there and ordering the platter for one, 2 drinks and have 2 people go to the salad bar.

The waiter will charge you for the second drink on the bill and they will come and tell you that the all you can eat salad is free for anyone purchasing a main meal. As you only purchased one main meal only 1 person is entitled to visit the sald bar.

I agree that I did NOT explain it very well.
The comment/analogy was meant to be a reply (much more relevent) to the youtube VIDEO, which had moved away from the OPs drink sharing situation, to a proper sit down restaurant situation, where people exchanging stuff on their plates, got into trouble with the restaurant staff.

As I said, I agree I was sloppy in presenting the explanation in the way I did, sorry.

 

[Puppies04]

had a friend that would take his personal thermos into fast food joints to fill up and walk out. he even took mcdonalds cups to burger king and vice versa.

nobody EVER said anything to him.

Sure I saw an article on the internet a couple of years back where a man was arrested for taking an empty cup he found and trying to get a free refill with it.

My google-fu appears to be weak today.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

Sure I saw an article on the internet a couple of years back where a man was arrested for taking an empty cup he found and trying to get a free refill with it.

My google-fu appears to be weak today.

Was it this one ?

Or this one ?

 

[Puppies04]

Was it this one ?

Or this one ?

No, I found both of those. I am sure this was a homeless guy/local panhandler who tried to get a refill on a coffee. Pretty sure if was MCDonalds (do they do free coffee refils in the USA?, we don't get them here). I might be exagerating it in my mind but I could have sworn he was taken to jail for it or some other major over reaction.

 

[WelshBloke]

OP is cheap.
OPs brother is cheap.
Lots of people in this thread are cheap.
OPs Facebook friend is mental.

 

[SOFTengCOMPelec]

OP is cheap.
OPs brother is cheap.
Lots of people in this thread are cheap.
OPs Facebook friend is mental.

I recently had my hair cut, and the sign said it would be £10. When I went to pay, the barbor said "I WON'T charge a member of Anandforums anything", so I left. The next day I knocked on his door, and gave him a free computer service.
The same thing happened to another anandtech forums member, they also had it for free. The next day they gave the barber a free packet of writable DVDs.

WelshBloke went to the same barbers, and had the free hair cut. The next day he returned with his brother, sister, and wife. (j/k).

 

[Puppies04]

OP is cheap.
OPs brother is cheap.
Lots of people in this thread are cheap.
OPs Facebook friend is mental.

/Thread

 

[Puppies04]

I recently had my hair cut, and the sign said it would be £10. When I went to pay, the barbor said "I WON'T charge a member of Anandforums anything", so I left. The next day I knocked on his door, and gave him a free computer service.
The same thing happened to another anandtech forums member, they also had it for free. The next day they gave the barber a free packet of writable DVDs.

WelshBloke went to the same barbers, and had the free hair cut. The next day he returned with his brother, sister, and wife. (j/k).

Where is this barbers, I could do with a free haircut....

 

[WelshBloke]

Where is this barbers, I could do with a free haircut....

I'd skip the haircut, I just need somewhere to get rid of a bunch of crap I don't need!

 

[Ichinisan]

I share mine sometimes. [edit] Usually just a few gulps to help the food go down. [/edit] I think of it from the perspective of the fast food employee:
Do they actually care if I share it with my brother? No? I guess it doesn't really matter then.

 

[Ichinisan]

To those who say this is theft, I would ask: is sharing a tub of popcorn and getting a free refill at the theater theft also?

I wouldn't exactly consider this theft - but I don't run a restaurant, so maybe I would if I did. Hmm...

:hmm:

Yeah. That's how I think of it. Sometimes, the other person doesn't want a whole drink. Just a few sips to help the food go down...

 

[Ichinisan]

lol, every time my brother-in-law goes to the movies he grabs an empty mega-sized popcorn container from the trash and gets free refill popcorn all night

he asked me if i wanted some one time - i politely declined o_o

...

D:

 

[Linux23]

Ewww backwash.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Well eating there they are shortening your life by 5 years anyway so that should be worth a free soda pop or two.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Delete that person off Facebook and continue sharing drinks.

Sometimes I want tea in my water cup and I'll get tea in my water cup.

 

[Puppies04]

Delete that person off Facebook and continue sharing drinks.

Sometimes I want tea in my water cup and I'll get tea in my water cup.

Does anyone know someone who goes nuclear in situations like this. I would love to talk to one of them just to see how batshit craycray they really are.